Thursday, November 20, 2008

I have been saving these images for a rainy day. This is it! Rose hippy tea, for me.Success does not mean the accumulation of wealth, the maintenance of position, or a supremacy of power. Success means a life free from the burden of anxiety, liberated from fear. There is no successful life without peace or without that inner spiritual certainty that knows that the soul is on the pathway of good, forever expanding into the conscious union of God with humanity. ...from E. Holmes, 365 Science of Mind, Nov 20

Have you ever been bopping along, maybe assuming or at least kind of thinking, that you were doing pretty great, like your ego had finally sat down for a rest, and then woke up to find that, no, IT"S ALL ABOUT ME!!!!

Horrors.

Taking a long walk with my dogs, who were actually behaving marvelously, it all of a sudden occurred to me that I want somebody to buy me flowers! Celebrate with me, celebrate ME!!!

My priorities have been established (as much as I ever prioritize...); I write, I paint, I walk the dogs, I focus on my relationships (that's everything, right?), I work, I cook and clean

(sometimes). Oh, and I always vote. So what's the problem?

Methinks no one notices! So then, the 'methinks' goes on, no one cares!

Isn't it funny. Sit on this and it turns into a time-bomb that only Keb' Mo could de-fuse.

"...inner spiritual certainity that knows the soul is on the pathway of good..." Today Rose Hip tea, dancing with the stereo, finishing dusting and cleaning my writing space, clean up the studio which looks like a tornado hit it (it did!), and on the way to work... poach some flowers for myself and my clients! Celebrate! Share the love, create some more, and share that, too.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Yellow.No name, as of this moment.Inspiration.Be strong and of a good courage... for the Lord thy God, he is is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

Every person is, as Emerson said, "dear to the heart of God." We [can] develop an increasing consciousness that we are protected and guided in everything we do, say, or think.

From 365 Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes. (today being Nov. 19)

A painting has cousins. Named Poetry. Named Writing. Named Relations. Named Prayer. Named Inspired. Named Keep Going.

Last night I put the last layers of color on the as-of-now-unamed painting. Three of my pieces will be on stage this week through Thanksgiving at our Center for Spiritual Living. To me this is a huge honor. I gave myself stage fright telling my daughter how many people, and therefore eyes, were going to be seeing my work. Late yesterday afternoon, Sandy and I lined up the paintings along the hedge and gave them a mini critique, deciding to move forward with the original plan... do not quit now! Not yet! Keep Going! So I plugged in the fan, painted a layer, let it dry somewhat, painted another, watched NOVA(There is One God...), painted some more, and quit. Sandy came over again, gave it the nod of approval and I am so grateful for artist friends/neighbors.

I mentioned to her, "Maybe I should take my paints to goodwill, and give my brushes away." She whirled around and said, "WHAT?" I started to repeat, she interrupted. "No, you have to paint. That is all there is to it."

Sometimes I think about tossing my writing. Burning journals(probably going to do that, regardless). Throwing out the cookbooks.

DEAR HEAVEN! What a twist this little typing session has taken. Back Off! O foul thinking!

So. Please say a prayer for my Luna dog. She has(up until now) a dastardly itching, replete with a new batch of welts. A prayer for all of us to climb back into our skins and look and experience the wonder around us.

Friday, November 7, 2008

I still do not know what to say. And maybe I do not need to say a word!

Today I worked with other artists to hang a show at our Center for Spiritual Living. We hung 240+ pieces of artwork, giving each one attention and care. The show looks fabulous. It is open to members of the Center, and for me one of the most rewarding experiences is to see the faces of the people as they bring in their artwork. It reminds me of young mothers bringing their child to school for the first time, clinging perceptively to their child, as each steps into a new chapter of Life, and glowing with the sense of achievement. We did it!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The first raindrops drumming, spattering, smelling so goooooood!November 4. It is a big day, here in the land of Democracy. A day to mark the little, powerful square on the long, purple ballet. No voting machines here in our town. Thank You Goddess, because I am prepared to ASK for a pencil and paper. Yep. That's the writer/artist in me, inherently distrustful of that which is to represent me, unless I have moved the marker to create the squiggle.

Which brings me to Trust! Obviously trust, to trust, trusting, trusted is something each of us are going to have to cultivate. Maybe starting little?

A day or so ago, I heard a commentator say of Obama's lead in the polls, "...is significant. More than enough for a "mandate"..." The fabulous voice in my head nearly blew off the top of my skull. One of the despicable things about the last 8 years of Republican destruction, was the whole concept of "mandate." Winning an election is about repair, recovering, about healing and about reconstruction, about good for the whole country. Not about a mandate for anything.

I see the fundamental change that we as US citizens face is taking responsibility. Our work is to look lovingly and carefully at how we live our lives. Our work is to look beyond our own comfort and bank-books, and to act for a larger good. The bigger picture includes each one of us, as well as our neighbor (yep, even the rich one up the hill, and the one living in the brush along the river).

So now I am going to go to the lake, in between the cold showers. Dogs don't care, so I won't either! O Happy Day! Mmmm-mmmm, mmmmmm-mmm, mmmmmmmm, ta ta taaaaaa!

About Me

Swallowtail Butterflies are fresh and new by the first of April. Larabee is a hidden valley created by the Eel River. Perhaps I have lived here since time began, a butterfly in the willows on the banks of a Northern river.